Category: Places
-
Weymouth
Reading Time: 5 minutes 22nd June 2024 We arrived at Weymouth at 11:30 GMT and were allocated berth D4. Normally finding a berth requires a search of the pontoon ends with binoculars to spot the minute signs to denote “D pontoon” and then a guess to wonder whether you travel down the near side or…
-
Beaulieu to Weymouth via Swanage
Reading time: Five miutes 16th June 2024 Beaulieu – and it certainly is a good place We decided to hide up the Beaulieu River for a few days while the strong westerly winds were blowing. It also happened to be The Round the Island Race at the weekend so we felt Cowes would be packed…
-
Marinas and Harbours – Walton on the Naze to Portsmouth 2024
14th June 2024 Reading Time: 10 minutes As a reminder to myself, and maybe to help others cruising the South Coast of England, I thought I would review some of the marinas and harbours that we are stopping at. We are using a lot of marinas because we have a dog onboard and it simplifies…
-
The Humble Tin Can
9th March 2024 Here is a little piece based on an article I wrote for the Arctic Club Spring Newsletter I was reading Fergus Fleming’s excellent book “Barrow’s Boys” and my ears pricked up when I learnt than the very first tin cans were made just a short stroll from where I live in Rotherhithe.…
-
The Arctic Club
December 2023 I am very pleased to announce that I have been appointed President Elect of the Arctic Club. It is a huge honour to be able to represent the Club. I will be following in the talented footsteps of Olly Sanders who has just retired as President, and Kevin Mansell who is the current…
-
It’s the end of 2023 Sailing Season
20th October 2023 – Ipswich and Titchmarsh It has been a great sailing season. I really enjoyed bringing Sumara through the Caledonian Canal, around to Edinburgh and then down the East Coast. Then I joined Will Stirling to sail through the North West Passage which was a brilliant experience. To finish off the season, just…
-
North West Passage – Day 3 – Iqaluit
5th August 2023 We have arrived in Iqaluit on the southern end of Baffin Island. I refrained from buying a cool cotton tee shirt in Ottawa as I wrongly assumed that the temperature would drop as we move northwards. I am now roasting in my expedition thermals. This place feels more like Texas than Baffin…
-
North West Passage – Day 2 – London to Ottawa
4th August 2023 A misunderstanding regarding check in times at Heathrow resulted in me booking a night in the airport Premier Inn ready for an early start. I met Dan in the bar where we remained until midnight. The flight to Paris was uneventful other than needing to queue for donkeys to check in oversized…
-
Preparations for the North West Passage – One week to go!
26th July 2023 Rotherhithe Reading time: 5 Minutes The adventure seems to be attracting a fair bit of press. The Telegraph had this write up and PBO had this. Stirling and Son’s Facebook page has this amazing video of what I should expect and, although I have sailed on Integrity before, this looks like pretty…
-
Sailing from Edinburgh to Walton on the Naze
Reading time: 15 minutes 30th June to 8th July 2023 Granton to Eyemouth 44 nm 30th June 2023 Granton Harbour is rather shallow, so it is wise to wait for a couple of hours of flood tide before heading off. Conveniently that meant a civilized departure at 09:00 GMT. The mixture of moderate to very…